UPDATE: Hurricane Humberto forms, far from land

Tuesday

Sep 10, 2013 at 1:50 PMSep 11, 2013 at 11:10 AM

Staff and wire reports

Hurricane Humberto became the first hurricane of the 2013 season Wednesday morning, forming a few hours short of the record for the latest first hurricane of the modern satellite era.Humberto had sustained winds of 75 mph Wednesday morning, just crossing the minimum threshold to qualify as a hurricane.

The storm – which is not expected to impact Florida - is located 310 miles to the west and north of the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of Africa. It is moving northwest at 8 mph and is expected to strengthen somewhat before weakening later in the week.

Forming at 5 a.m. Wednesday, Humberto barely missed breaking the modern record for the latest first hurricane of the season. That was set by Hurricane Gustav in 2002, which also formed on Sept. 11 but was declared a hurricane at 8 a.m., according to the National Hurricane Center.

The first hurricane in 1905 did not form until Oct. 8, but records from before the satellite era are considered unreliable because storms that never approached land may not have been recorded.

The slow start to the 2013 hurricane season has some forecasters rethinking predictions calling for an above average number of storms this year.

Tuesday marked the peak of the hurricane season. On average, three hurricanes have formed by this point in years past. A typical season brings six hurricanes. The season runs through Nov. 30, but major storms are rare after late October.

EARLIER: Humberto (oom-BEHR'-toh) has strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane far out in the Atlantic, becoming the first hurricane of the Atlantic season.

Humberto's maximum sustained winds early Wednesday are near 75 mph (120 kph). The U.S. National Hurricane Center says the hurricane could gain more strength before a weakening trend likely starts on Thursday.

Humberto is centered about 310 miles (500 kilometers) west-northwest of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands and is moving north-northwest near 8 mph (13 kph).

EARLIER: Bermuda braced Tuesday for heavy rains and wind as Tropical Storm Gabrielle reformed in the Atlantic and gained strength.

The British territory suspended ferry service as wind and rain started to pick up, and several flights were cancelled as the storm approached.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said tropical storm conditions were expected on the island late Tuesday, with up to 5 inches of rain predicted.

The storm was centered 95 miles south of Bermuda on Tuesday afternoon and was moving north at 12 mph with maximum sustained winds of nearly 50 mph.

Gabrielle was expected to strengthen over the next two days and pass over or near Bermuda by late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

Farther east over the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Humberto's maximum sustained winds increased to near 65 mph and the storm was expected to become a hurricane by late Tuesday. It currently poses no threat to land.

EARLIER: Bermuda is preparing for the arrival of Tropical Storm Gabrielle.

The British territory suspended ferry services on Tuesday as wind and rain started to pick up.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says tropical storm conditions are expected late Tuesday, with up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain predicted.

The storm was centered 165 miles south of Bermuda at midmorning and was moving north at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. Gabrielle is expected to strengthen in the next two days and pass over or near Bermuda by Wednesday morning.

Farther east over the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Humberto's maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph and the storm is expected to become a hurricane.

UPDATE FROM CASSIE NALL, SNN METEOROLOGIST

Today is the climatological peak of hurricane season and right on cue, we have 2 named storms in the Atlantic with another possible by the end of the weak.

Tropical Storm Humberto continues to strengthen in a very favorable environment near the Cape Verde Islands and is forecast to become the first hurricane of the 2013 season later today.

Remember Tropical Storm Gabrielle? Well she is back this morning... The system regenerated to the south of Bermuda and is moving towards the NNW at around 14 mph. On this track, Gabrielle will pass over or very close to the island early Wednesday, bringing Bermuda some squally weather over the next couple of days.

Later this week, a tropical wave currently located in the western Caribbean is forecast to move into the Bay of Campeche and conditions appear favorable for a tropical system to develop by this weekend. If this wave develops into a tropical storm it's name will be Ingrid (ING-grid). The good news is that regardless of development, the models forecast this system to move towards the west or northwest into Mexico and southern Texas.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.